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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102

ť Topic: 5 inch rocket storage box
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3442

I am intending to have one of the rocket storage boxes open, does anyone have a photo they can post, showing one of these storage boxes open? I need to know? if they had a prop bar to keep the lid in the open position,or did the top just fold back w!hen open?
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 12, 2013 - 6:01pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ted,
I remember a photo that Jerry posted, from I think Dave Prentice, on the 204 boat in Ron 15. It showed the crew firing a captured Breda. The photo has the only view I can remember of an open box of 4.5" rockets.
I'll try to find it if Jerry can't come up with it.

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Dec 13, 2013 - 6:04pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

Hi Steve,
Do you mean this one? I think Ted is looking for one for the 5 inch spin stabilized Mark 50 Rocket Launchers. But this is still a cool picture! Jerry

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658/PT204targetpracticewith30calnoterocketrack1.jpg[/image]

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Dec 13, 2013 - 8:11pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Steve and Jerry;
I am talking about the Mk 50 Rocket launcher`s rocket storage box..
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 15, 2013 - 1:14pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Sorry about that ! Your right Jerry , it is one cool picture .

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Dec 16, 2013 - 12:13pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

Hi Ted,
I think I remember seeing a photo from an instruction pamphlet about the setup of the Mk50 Rocket Launchers on PT Boats. It has a photo of the bridge showing the gunsights and the control box and another photo taken in front of the bow showing the 20mm boresight cannon and the illuminating mortar, the sighting bar and the rocket launchers. It looks like the photo was taken of the 2 boats they had in Miami for rocket testing in 1944. In that second photo you can see the open rocket storage box with spare rockets lating inside. I only have an extremely blurry copy, I think Al Ross has an original copy of this instruction pamphlet and if you ask him nicely he may post it here.? Jerry

Posted By: Jerry N Gilmartin | Posted on: Dec 17, 2013 - 11:23am
Total Posts: 26 | Joined: Oct 12, 2013 - 8:28pm

Jerry;
Thanks. I will ask Brother Al ASAP!!
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 17, 2013 - 11:57am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ted, Been breezing though my files, but it seems every time I spot one, they are closed. I will keep looking though........

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Dec 19, 2013 - 1:31pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am

Ted,
Here is what I was talking about, it is pretty grainy but the box appears open and you can see some rockets laying inside. I think AL Ross may have posted the photo showing the close-up of the bridge with all the rocket gunsights in a previous post from 2007?
Jerry

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/rocket_0001.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/rocket_0002.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/rocketboxblownup.jpg[/image]

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Dec 19, 2013 - 4:13pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Jerry;
Thanks , nice photo of PT 558 at Melville to, I guess the cockpit photo, is also 558.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 19, 2013 - 5:18pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Hey there.

Notice that the mortar is EIGHTY-ONE millimetres? Not the more common 60 mm.

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a fast boat for we want to get out of harm's way too."

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder2 | Posted on: Dec 20, 2013 - 2:15pm
Total Posts: 204 | Joined: Dec 8, 2012 - 6:03pm

I believe 60mm & 81mm were the two standard Army weapons.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Dec 21, 2013 - 10:12am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

I believe 60mm & 81mm were the two standard Army weapons.

Will

That's correct. However many people tell me that having an 81 mm on the foredeck of my PT boat model is wrong. At least now I have two images that I can show them to prove they're the ones whoare wrong.

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a fast boat for we want to get out of harm's way too."

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder2 | Posted on: Dec 21, 2013 - 3:33pm
Total Posts: 204 | Joined: Dec 8, 2012 - 6:03pm

HI Peter!
Yes I agree with you! Some boats had 81mm and some had 60mm mortars. I think I have seen a photo showing the PT171 had an 81mm as well. I suppose it depends on what type mortar was made available to the boat crew when they were installing the weapons onto each boat. Sort of a case by case basis. To say they never had one or the other is obviously disproven by actual photos that show different boats with each type of mortar. I think if you choose to put an 81mm mortar it would be perfectly plausible, especially if you had an actual photo showing same on that particular boat or one in the same Squadron even.
Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Dec 21, 2013 - 5:30pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Peter;
Who told you the 81mm was wrong?
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 22, 2013 - 8:34am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Hello Ted. The big man on the boat you asked about the rocket locket launcher cover is Big Lou Smith. He is standing on the 582 boat.I was the gunners mate 3rd class onthe 582 at that time in the Phillipines.outa here ole JWSullivan

Posted By: John Sullivan | Posted on: Dec 22, 2013 - 1:11pm
Total Posts: 46 | Joined: Oct 11, 2006 - 6:57pm

John;
Thanks John for the ID of Big Lou Smith, but this photo must be taken at his previous command, because the boat pictured is a 78' Higgins(was he with maybe PT204 RON 15 in Med?) , do you have any photos of PT 582 RON 39 you could share here?
Happy Holidays to you!!
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 23, 2013 - 8:07am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Peter;
Who told you the 81mm was wrong?
Take care,
TED

Ahoy there Ted.

Absolutely no need for me to mention any names. When I built my model and placed the 81 mm morar on it I had one image that showed an 81 mm mortar. Pretty sure it was in U.S. PT Boats Of WW2. IIRC the book title correctly.

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a fast boat for we want to get out of harm's way too."

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder2 | Posted on: Dec 23, 2013 - 9:22am
Total Posts: 204 | Joined: Dec 8, 2012 - 6:03pm